Fuel registering device for use on motor vehicles



June 9, 1953 J. F. TRUCKENBRODT 2,641,129

FUEL REGISTERING DEVICE'FOR USE ON MOTOR VEHICLES Filed April 21, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

John fiuc/rewbrodf aiza yfw w l9 TTOR/VEY Patented June 9, 1953 FUEL REGISTERING DEVICE FOR USE ON,

MOTOR VEHICLES John F. Truckenbrodt, Kent, Wash.

Application April 21, 1950, Serial No. 157,228

This invention relates to liquid fuel registering devices for use on motor vehicles.

An object of this invention is to provide liquid fuel registering devices for use in connection with the fuel tanks of motor vehicles and which will make a permanent record showing the amount of fuel put into a tank, the time at which each batch of fuel was put in, the amount of fuel used out of the tank, the time during which fuel was being used, the approximate rate at which the fuel was consumed during periods of use and the time during which no fuel was being used.

Another object of this invention is to provide fuel registering means comprising a moving record sheet having graduations thereon and having a marking device or stylus movable across said record sheet in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the portion of the sheet in contact with the marking device and further having means responsive to variations in the amount of fuel in the fuel tank for controlling the movement of the marking device whereby an accurate and complete record will be marked on the record sheet showing quantity of fuel introduced into and removed from the fuel tank and the time periods during which the introduction and removal of fuel occurred.

Another object of this invention is to provide fuel registering means which will give to owners of motor vehicles, such as trucks and automobiles, permanent time and volume records relative to the supply of fuel to and the withdrawal of fuel from the fuel tank of each vehicle thereby enabling the vehicle owners'to detect fraudulent reports of drivers who may seek to defraud by reporting the purchase of more fuel than they actually put into a fuel tank.

Another object of this invention is to provide liquid fuel registering devices which are simple in construction, reliable and efficient in operation and not expensive to manufacture and install on motor vehicles.

Other objects of this invention are to provide fuel registering devices for making a time coordinated fuel record on a record sheet and in which the record sheet may be in the form of a disc or may be a tape or strip of paper or like material and in which the record may be made on a record sheet which is locked within a housing and which is remotely positioned relative to the fuel tank with which it is connected.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the accompanying drawings are diagrammatic and that variations in the form of the mechanism used in carrying out the invention may be made.

2 Claims. (01. 73312) In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side View showing record d sc supporting and moving means embodied in the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan viewof a transparent conversion disc used in connection with the devices shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and showing outlines of four different tanks and having four different sets of graduations or scales marked thereon, it being understood that additional tanks and scale graduations may be shown on this disc,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of record disc which may be used in connection with the devices shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary somewhat diagrammatic view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing a modified form of this invention.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of this invention adaptedfor making a rec- 0rd on a tape or strip of paper or like material instead of on a disc.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of a piece of transparent tape marked so that it can be used as a conversion sheet to interpret a record on a sheet similar to the sheet shown in Fig. 6.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views:

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral IIl designates a record disc marked in accordance with this invention and supported on a turntable II which is rotatively moved at a slow rate of speed by any suitable type of clock mechanism disposed within a housing I2. The record disc I0 is-centered on the turntable I I by a post I3 which is preferably shaped so that the disc IE! cannot slip relative to the turntable. The clock mechanism is designed to drive the turntable II slowly, for instance, one complete revolution each twenty-four hours or one complete revolution each forty-eight hours. In the present instance it is assumed that the record disc I9 is to be moved one complete revolution each twenty-four hours and said disc is divided by radial lines into twenty-four equal segments and has, adjacent its circumference, numbers to indicate the twentyfour hours of a day. Also this record disc I 0 has preferably two circular lines I 4 and I5 marked thereon, one near the periphery and the other near the center of said record disc. One of these circular lines, such as the outermost line I4 is used as a starting line or a line on which a marking device or stylus It will be positioned when a fuel tank with which it is connected is substantially empty.

The marking device or stylus I6 is adapted to engage with. and make a mark on the record disc lil. This marking device |6 contacts the disc It and is supported for radial movement across the surface of said disc as by an arm H. The arm I! is guided and supported by any suitable means, such as a guide and support means indicated diagrammatically by l8. The arm I1 is adapted to be longitudinally moved by a thermostat member |9 which is shown diagrammatically and which may be of any desired type.

An electric heating coil 2!] is associated with the thermostat member l9 and is arranged to heat the same. The temperature of the coil 20 is responsive to changes in the level of the fuel in a fuel tank 2| and movement of the thermostat member I3 is proportional to the heat of the coil 20. A bimetallic type thermostat means is illustrated in Fig. l but it will be understood that any conventional thermostat means capable of exerting the required force and imparting the desired amount of movement to the arm I! may be used.

Devices which may be used to control the heat of the coil 20 are diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1. These devices comprise a rheostat 22 includ ing resistance means 23 and a movable contactor 24 which is fulcrumed on a pivot 25. An actuating member 26 connects the contactor 24 with a float arm 2'! in the tank 2|. The float arm 21 is mounted on a fulcrum 28 and is connected with a buoyant float 29.

Circuit wires 30 and 3| connect the heating coil 2|! with the resistance member 23 and the movable contactor 24 respectively and a source of electrical energy, such as a storage battery 32, is connected with these circuit wires. Battery 32 may be the usual storage battery of the motor vehicle on which this apparatus is installed.

When tank 2| is substantially empty the float 29 will drop to the bottom of said tank and the rheostat 22 will cut off all or substantially all of the current to the coil 23. If fuel is put into the tank 2| the float 29 will rise and the rheostat 22 will be caused to pass to the coil 20 an increasing amount of current which varies directly with the amount of fuel in the tank. This will vary the heat of the coil 20 and deflect the thermostat member l9 and move the stylus or marking device IS an amount which varies directly with the elevation of the fuel level in tank 2|. For instance, when the tank 2| is empty and the rheostat 22 is not passing any current or is passing only a small amount of current the thermostat member l9 may assume the curved position shown at the left by dot and dash lines in Fig. 1 and the marking device It may be positioned on the outermost circle Id of record disc ID. If the fuel level in the tank 2| is raised this thermostat member I9 will be deflected to the right and when the tank is full will be in a position substantially as shown by dot and dash lines at the right in Fig. 1. Thus the marking device IE] will be moved across the disc ID in a radial direction.

The record disc shown in Fig. 1 is not calibrated in radial directions to indicate gallons and consequently this disc I is adapted for use with a fuel tank of any size and shape or contour but is to be read or interpreted by the use of a separable transparent conversion disc having radial calibrations or scales and illustrated in Fig, 3.

The transparent conversion disc 33 has depicted thereon a plurality of tanks of difierent shape or contour and capacity and has, in connection with the showing of each tank, a number of radially spaced apart graduation marks which are calibrated in terms of gallons so that they will indicate in gallons the amount of fuel in the particular tank they represent. The conversion disc 33 is used by taking a record disc ID on which a record line has been made by the marking device Ifi, placing the conversion disc 33 over the disc I0 with the central openings of the two discs preferably centered on a common pin so that the two discs are co-axially supported and can be relatively adjusted angularly and interpreting the record line on the disc ill by comparing it with the graduations on the conversion disc 33 which are calibrated to the tank of the vehicle on which the record line was made.

Each segment of the auxiliary disc 33 carries information in the nature of an outline and a scale relative to a different tank. A record made on a disc ID by a vehicle having a fifty gallon rectangularly shaped tank may be read with ref erence to the rectangular tank outline 34 and accompanying scale on the transparent conversion disc 33. Such a reading of the record line shown on the disc IU of Fig. 1 would convey the following information: The line section B would indicate that prior to 12:30 noon of a certain day the truck motor was not running and the fuel tank contained about ten gallons of fuel; the line section C indicates that at 12:30 substantially forty gallons of fuel were put into the tank; the line section D indicates that between 12:30 and 2 the truck motor operated substantially continuously and used ten gallons of fuel; the line section E indicates that between 2 and 3 oclock the truck motor was not operating and that no fuel was used; the line section F indicates substantially continuous operation of the motor between 3 and $30 with the use of ten gallons of fuel; the line section G indicates no operation of the motor between 4:30 and 5:30; the line section H indicates substantially continuous operation of the motor and the use of about five gallons of fuel between 5:30 and 6 oclock.

The record disc shown in Fig. 4 is calibrated to indicate gallons with reference to a particular tank by marking radially spaced apart concentric circles thereon. The record line shown on the disc 35 is the same as the record line shown on the disc l0 and the sections of said record line are similarly lettered and said record line on disc 35 is interpreted or read as explained in the preceding paragraph without the use of an auxiliary conversion disc 33. Obviously when a record disc is calibrated in terms of gallons like disc 35 it can only be used in connection with a fuel tank of one size and shape or contour.

Figure 5 shows, somewhat diagrammatically, devices constructed in accordance with this invention in which the electrically actuated thermostatic means is dispensed with and a marking device or stylus 40 carried by an arm 4| is movable radially over a slowly rotating record disc 42. The end portion of the arm 4| remote from the stylus or marking device 40 is pivotally connected with a lever arm 43 which is secured to a shaft 44. The shaft 44 extends into a fuel tank 45 and is attached to a float lever 46 with which a float 41 is connected. Obviously vertical movement of the float 41 in the tank 45 will move the stylus 40 radially over the slowly rotating record disc 42 to mark a record line thereon,

Fig. 6 shows, somewhat diagrammatically, devices constructed in accordance with this inven tion which are similar to the devices shown in Fig. 1 except that a record line is marked on a tape or strip of moving material instead of on a moving disc. It will be understood that the term record sheet as herein used refers either to a disc or a tape or strip on which a record mark is made.

In Fig. 6 a tape or strip 59 is supported on rollers 5| and 5E and is moved slowly over a platen 53 as by clock mechanism in a housing 54 which is connected with one of said rollers. The tape 58 has transverse lines 55 indicating hours or like increments of time and has marginal numbers indicating preferably twenty four hour days. Also the tape 5!; may have longitudinally extending lines which are properly spaced apart transversely to indicate in gallons the capacity of a particular fuel tank 51'. Obviously the longitudinally extending lines 56 can be omitted from the tape 50 and markings on the tape 50 can be interpreted by means of a separate transparent tape 58, Fig. '7, which can be laid over and registered with the tape 50 and used to interpret a record line on the tape 50 in a manner similar to that previously explained in connection with the two discs and 33.

A marking device 59 carried by an arm 60 and supported by guide means 6| i movable across the tape 50. The arm 60 is connected with the longer arm 62 of a lever and said lever is mounted on a pivot 64 and has a shorter arm 63 which is connected, as by slot and pin means 63' with a thermostat member 65. A bi-metallic thermostat member 65 is indicated in Fig. 6 and said member 65 has one end portion thereof secured to a support 66. A heating coil 15 on the thermostat member 65 is connected by circuit wires 6'! with a rheostat 69 having a movable contactor l0 and resistance means H. A battery 68 or other source of electrical energy is connected in the circuit including wires 61. The contactor T0 is positioned externally of the fuel tank 57 and is connected with a shaft 13 which extends into the tank and has a, float arm 14 secured thereto.

The float arm 14 is connected with a float like the float 41 shown in Fig. 5 by which said arm 14 will be angularly moved in response to variations of the fuel level in the tank 51. This will angularly move the shaft 13 and vary the amount of current passed by the rheostat 69 to the coil thus varying the heat output of the coil 15 in direct ratio to the depth of fuel in the tank 51. The thermostat 65 will be deflected or moved an amount proportional to the heat output of the coil 15 and will move the stylus 51 across the slowly moving tape 50 and mark on said tape a record line showing accurately fuel conditions within the tank during the period of time covered by said record line.

In all forms of thi invention except the one shown in Fig. 5 the means which carries and marks the record sheet, namely the disc In of Fig. 1 or the tape 50 of Fig. 6, can be installed in a suitable housing in the drivers compartment of a motor vehicle. The float will necessarily be in the fuel tank of the vehicle and the rheo'stat may be adjacent the fuel tank.

In all forms of the invention herein disclosed a float in a fuel tank controls the movement of a marking device or stylus across a moving record sheet with the marking device moving substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of the part of the record sheet which it contacts. This leaves on the record sheet a record mark which, when taken in connection with the mileage record on the speedometer of the vehicle, provides a substantially complete fuel record for any predetermined period of operation of the vehicle.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose certain preferred embodiments of this invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In registering means for a fuel tank, a movably supported record sheet; clock controlled record sheet moving means connected with said record sheet providing continuous slow speed movement of said record sheet; a marking device engaging said record sheet and guided for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the part of the sheet engaged by said marking device, whereby a record mark is made on said record sheet; a float in the fuel tank; marking device moving means responsive to movement of said float; time graduations on said record sheet spaced apart in the direction of movement of said sheet; a transparent conversion sheet adapted to be placed over said record sheet, said conversion sheet having sets of volumetric calibrations corresponding to different shapes of tanks and having a tank depicted thereon corresponding to each set of calibrations, whereby a selected set of calibrations on said conversion sheet may be brought into registration with said record sheet to indicate the fuel level in a corresponding tank at a given time.

2. Liquid level recording means for use in connection with receptacles of varying shape and size, comprising a movably supported record sheet; clock controlled record sheet moving means connected with said record sheet providing uniform continuous slow speed movement of said record sheet; a marking device engaging said record sheet and guided for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the part of the sheet engaged by said marking device, whereby a record mark will be made on said record sheet by movement of said marking device; a float adapted for installation in receptacles of predetermined size and shape; marking device moving means connected with said float adapted to transversely move said marking device in response to changes in the liquid level in the receptacle in which the float is installed; a separable transparent conversion sheet; a plurality of receptacles of different size and shape depicted on said conversion sheet; a plurality of sets of graduations on said conversion sheet associated respectively with the receptacle depictions thereon, each set of graduations being calibrated in terms of the depicted receptacle with which it is associated on the sheet, whereby a mark made on the record sheet by a marking device controlled by a float in a receptacle of predetermined size and shape can be interpreted by application to the record sheet of the scale associated with the depiction of a receptacle of corresponding size and shape on the conversion sheet.

JOHN F. TRUCKENBRODT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 483,722 Lewis Oct. 4, 1892 1,010,959 Rohrbacker Dec. 5, 1911 1,848,789 Logan et a1 Mar. 8, 1932 1,922,362 Halversen Aug. 15, 1933 1,962,311 Knobel June 12, 1934 2,004,421 Smulski June 11, 1935 2,203,667 Buechmann June 11, 1940 

